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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Saints Constantine And Helen Greek Orthodox Church

City: Westland

Window Shape: other

Date of Window: 1996

Subject/Title of Window: The Baptism of Christ

Brief Description of Subject: Located in the north transept, at the top of this icon are the Greek words for "The Baptism of Christ." All scriptural quotes are from the NKJV.
 
The Baptism of Christ, as found in Mark 1:19 - 11, contains the first appearance of the Trinity. The light at the top of the icon is the Father whose "voice came from heaven" and said, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The Son  "came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The Holy Spirit is "descending upon Him like a dove."
 
Christ is pictured with a halo with the Greek letters omicron, omega, and nu --- initials for the Greek words for "I am who is," the name of God in Exodus 3:14. This was meant to symbolize that the Old Testament is sacred scriptures and that Christ is God. Above the shoulders of Christ are the Greek letters  IC and XC. These are the first two letters in the Greek words for Jesus and Christ. 
Christ is standing on the Hydra. In Greek mythology it is a multi headed sea serpent, a monster created to kill Hercules. This illuminates Psalm 74:13, "You divided the sea by your strength; you broke the heads of the sea serpents on the water." This verse refers to the parting of the Red Sea. Below and to the right of Christ is Poseidon, ruler of the seas in Greek mythology, riding a dolphin to escape God who was stopping the River Jordan so the Israelites could cross into the promised land. Poseidon is commonly pictured, as here, with a dolphin as had sent a dolphin to find a wife for him. Psalm 114:3 is being illuminated here, "The sea saw it and fled; Jordan turned back." Below and left of Christ is Aquarius (water pourer). In Greek mythology he was abducted by Zeus and forced to fill the cups of the gods. He is usually pictured, as here, as a young man pouring water from a jug. This may be illuminating Isaiah 44:3, "For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants." This is considered to be a prefiguring of Baptism. 
 
In the halo of John the Baptist are the Greek letters iota and omega --- the first two letters the Greek word for John. He is pictured above Christ and stretching his hand to baptize Him. This has the effect of signaling the end of the past (Old Testament) and handing the future to the New Testament in Christ.
 
Angels seen to the right of Christ are not found in the account of the baptism but appear here with hands veiled in reverence, to serve Him.
 
The pen and ink sketch for this icon was made by Willet Hauser and submitted for approval by the Church.

Inscriptions: The Baptism of Christ (in Greek)


Height: 27'

Width: 22'

Type of Glass and Technique: Slab or Faceted Glass (Dalle de Verre)

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